Illinois grows enough pumpkins for 8B pumpkin-spice lattes

By Dylan Sharkey

10/10/2025

Illinois can take credit for plenty of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes. The state produces enough pumpkins to make nearly 8 billion pumpkin spice lattes, the most pumpkins in the U.S.

Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish

By Josh Bandoch, Jon Josko

09/19/2025

Illinois showed slow job growth as the state trailed national trends. Unemployment was at 4.4% in August, slightly above the national rate

Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

08/12/2025

Despite leading the region in businesses applying to open, Illinois’ combative business climate results in few business actually starting.

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

By Paul Vallas

08/11/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is burnishing his national image as a Democratic presidential candidate by inserting himself in the Texas redistricting controversy. But Illinoisans are growing tired of Pritzker and taxation, pushing his favorability rating into the negative.

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

By John Tillman

07/04/2025

Happy Fourth of July? Nope. We should always call it Independence Day. It reminds us of what we celebrate and what it means.

TAGS: freedom, Independence Day

Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters

By Patrick Andriesen

06/13/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s sentencing to 7.5 years for bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud ends his active role in Illinois politics. But his legacy of gerrymandering will continue to shape Illinois politics long after he’s behind bars.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Illinois’ February unemployment rate 5th highest in U.S.

By Ravi Mishra

04/10/2025

Unemployment in Illinois remains stubbornly high. February’s unemployment rate was the fifth highest in the nation at 4.8%.

Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans

By Chris Coffey

03/21/2025

Opportunity stalls in Illinois as the state lags other Midwestern states on four key indicators of social mobility. The state trails the rest of the region on entrepreneurship, economic growth, institutions and the rule of law.

Illinois job growth modest amid high unemployment, competitive market

By Ravi Mishra

03/17/2025

Illinois’ unemployment improved somewhat in January. It ranked fifth highest in the nation after being third highest for months.

Michigan

Illinois grows enough pumpkins for 8B pumpkin-spice lattes

Information sector bright spot as Illinois job market remains sluggish

Illinois forms businesses at one of lowest rates in Midwest

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters

Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Illinois’ February unemployment rate 5th highest in U.S.

Getting ahead is hard for low-income Illinoisans

Illinois job growth modest amid high unemployment, competitive market

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students